Method of and apparatus for shearing strips of plastic material



V. A. RAYBURN METHOD OF'AND APPARATUS FOR SHEAHING STRIPS OF PLASTICMATEHIAL Oct. Y28, 1947,.

Filed mg. 14, '1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N .mi

/NVEN TOI?y N R w M R A. Y

Oct. 28, 1947. A, RAYBURN 2,429,945

METHOD yOF AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIPS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 y /N vE/v roA7 l/.A RA VEURN A Tron/ver Oct. 28, 1947. v. A. RAYBURN 2,429,945

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIPS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL 44 sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY OCLVZS, k19747. Y* V, A RAYB'URN 2,429,945

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIPSYOF PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Aug; 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Shed 4 l AAVEA'NTOR MA. RAYBUR/v therefrom rapidly.

Patented Oct. 28, 1947 BIETHOD OF APPARATU-S FOR SHEAR- ING:v STRIPS vOF PLASTIC MATERIAL Vincent A.A Rayburn, Baltimore, Md., assignorto. Western Electric Companmjlncorporated, New d York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 14, 194s, seria1N0.e1o,s35

l1s claims. (ol. 164-68) Thislinvention relates to methods of andA apparatus. for shearing strips of plastic material and has for its object vthe provision of new and` .improved methods of and apparatus for shearing such strips.v Y Y In .the preparation of strips of plastic material,

such' as rubber, or rubber-like materials, the ,l

plasticv material is milled and is frequently sheeted oil in long strips, which must be cut into short .segments .for convenience in 4subsequent hanrdling andprocessing. In the past, it has been difficult to shear suchV strips intosegments while advancing the stripscontinuously.

Arnethod embodying the' inventionocomprises reducing a portion of astrip of plasticr materiahV into a membrane, and placingthe portions of they 3 stripladjacent to the membrane under tension:Y j

to rupture the membrane.-

An apparatus formingone embodiment fof the invention comprises opposed means for'reducing "a portion of a strip of plastic material into a membrane"and-means for placing under tension the portions of fthestrip adjacent to the membrame, whereby the membrane is r,uptured` In practicing the inventiomastrip of plastic material is advanced by a pair ofinrunning feed rolls toa blade roll and an anvil roll atapredetermined rate of speed. A blade is secured to l the blade ro1land the blade roll and the anvil roll are rotated in lnrunningV .directions at rates of speed at which theytension the portion of the Y* strip between them and the feed rolls. A pair of cylindricalshells are driven in inrunning di rections byy aplurality of spiral torsion springs at; a rate of speed at which the shells tend to ad-` Vance from the blade roll and the anvil roll at A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed'de-1' scription of a methodv and an apparatus constifr ,n tuting specific embodiments thereof, when read A in conjunction with the 'appended-drawings,v in

which Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus'fornring u' one vembodiment of the invention;

` Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along .line 2;-2 Y

ofrigl; 4 n.

Fig. y3 is an enlarged,-y fragmentary, top plan view of the apparatus; v

Fig. 4 isan enlarged, fragmentary; front view`4 in partial section of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, 'horizontal' section taken along liney 5-i-5 of Figj; v

Fig..6is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sec# s tion vtakenalong line 6*-6 of Fig. 8, and` Fig. 'l is an enlarged, fragmentary verticalsection `taken along line 1-.1 of Fig. 3.

Referring now'in detail to the drawing, a strip Y 9 (Fi'gr2) made of plastic material, such as an insulating compound containing rubber or arubber-like'material, 'is advanced through a shear I to sever the strip l9 Yinto segments. The shear I0 includes a pair of inrunning feed rolls II and.y I2, which feed thestrip 9 into the bite of shearV rolls I and I6 (Fig. 1).' The roll I5 is a blade roll, and theroll I6 is an anvil roll. The shear rolls advance the strip to a pair of inrunning taller rolls fand 2I. 'y An idlerl gear 2,2 (Fig. 2) secured to an idler shaft 25 engagesr a gear 2B secured to ak drive a rate of speed substantially greater than that Y at which the strip is advanced by the blade roll' andthe anvil roll so that the springs windup ,and tension theportion of the strip between the bla'deandA the' anvil rollsand'the shells.y After the strip is tensioned between theblade and the anvil rolls andthe feed rolls and between the blade and the anvil rolls and the sliells, the blade pinchesv the strip leaving a membrane which is pinched against the anvil roll by the blade. The edge of the bladeismoved at a different rate of speed than that of kthe anvilroll so that the blade rubs the membrane "over the anvil roll.,r The pinching andrtherubbing, of the membrane and ,50'

the tension impartedfto the strip rupture the -shaft21 and is driven lby the shaft 21, whichY is driven by lsuitable driving means (not shown) in l a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 2;; i A gear 30 securedl to the driveshaft 21 engages a.'

gear 3I offasuitable',adjustable friction clutch 32, Ywhich is mountedo'n a bearing post 25, and servesto transmit a predeterminedamount of v force withouty slipping toa gear 36, 'which isalso membrane to form a sheared segment ofthe" strip, and the springs unwind to cause the shells te withdraw the neared segment of the Strip mountedon the bearing post 35. The 1gear.36

ymeshes with a gear 31, which in turn meshes with a gear V4I). The gear 4U is secured to aV shaft v4I upon which the feed roll II is mounted andthe gear y31 isnsecured to a shaft 42 upon which the feedroll I2 is mounted. YWhen-the lshaft 21 is driven at a predetermined rate of speed. the feed rolls II andvIZ are driven in opposite directions at edualpredctermined rates of speed and ad` vance thestrip Stothe left, as kviewed in`F-ig.r2.V

A gear secured toa shaft 4Q. which mounts the anvil roll-,I6 thereon,A meshes fwith a gear AIll rigidly vconnected to the shaft 25 and drives the shaft 46 when the shaft 25 is driven, whereby the anvil roll is rotated. A gear 48 (Fig. 1) secured to the shaft 46 meshes with a gear 50 se: cured upon a shaft 5| upon which the blade roll I5 is mounted.

The shaft 45 is rotatably mounted in slotted journal boxes 55-55, of which one is shown in Fig. 6. The journal boxes 55-55 are bolted to side frame members 56 and 51 (Fig. 1)' at the bottom of guideways formed therein, which are il1ustrated by a guideway B (Fig. 6). The shaft 5| is mounted in slotted journal boxes SI-BI one of which is shown in Fig. 6. Theslotted journal boxes (5I-6| are pressed toward the slotted journal boxes 55-55 by strong compression springs 62-62 (Fig. l). -The compression springs 62-52 (Fig. l) are positioned between the journal boxes BI-SI (Fig. 6) and adjusting boltsl 65--65 (Fig. 1) secured adjustably to a tie cap 66. The bolts 65-65 may be adjusted to vary the compressive forces placed upon the compression springs 62-62.

'Ih journal boxes (5I-6| (Fig. 6) are urged towardthe journalboxes 55-55, whereby the blade I5 i'sl urged toward the anvil roll I6. However, the `movement of the blade roll toward the anvil roll is Ilimited by adjustable stay rods (i3-63. 'Iubular'posts B1-61- (Fig. 1) are secured adjustably to journal boxes 1'|-1| mounted on the ends of the shaft 46, and engage journal boxes 10-10 mounted on the ends of the shaft 5|. Compression springs 1212 urge the journal boxes 10-10 away from the tubular posts 61--61 so that the shaft 5| is maintained against the upper halves 0f the journal boxes 6|-6|.

A bladev 15 (Fig. 7) having a blunt severing edge 16 formed thereon is secured by a clamping bar 80 in a slotl 11 formed in the blade roll I5, and an adjusting mechanism 82, which is more fully described in copending application Serial No. 610,832J led August 14, 1945, for Methods of and apparatus for shearing articles, serves to adjust the position of the blade bar 15 (Fig. 7) to vary the distance which the blade 16 thereof projects beyond the periphery of the blade roll. The

. clamping bar 80 is provided with a relieved portion 85 adjacent to the blade 15 and the blade roll has a relieved portion 85 positioned adjacent to the blade.

When the drive shaft 21 (Fig. 2) is driven, the shear rolls I5 and I6l (Fig.6) are rotated at pe- 9| is similarly mounted by collars 96-96 upon a, shaft 91. A plurality of spiral torsion springs IUD-|00 bolted to the cylindrical shell 90 connect the cylindrical shell 90 to the shaft 95, and a plurality of spiral torsion springs |0||0| bolted to the cylindrical shell 9| connect the cylindrical shell 9| t0 the shaft 91. The outer end 'of each of the spiral springs |00|00 is connected Fig. 7, and the shell 90 'is retarded by the strip, Vthe spiral springs |00-I00 are Wound up as they rotate the shell 90. Similarly the spiral springs I0||0| rotate the cylindrical shell 9| in a counterclockwise direction when the shaft 91 is vrotated in that direction and the shell 90 is retarded by the strip, and are Wound up more tightly by the resistance of the shell 9| The shaft 91 is rotatably mounted in slottedv journal boxes H12-|02, which are mounted in guideways |05 and |06 formed in frame members |01 and |08, respectively. A pair of slotted journal boxes ||I| serve to mount the shaft 95 above the shaft 91 and are` urged by compression springs |I2| I2 against adjustable stop screws |5--I I5 projecting from the journal boxes |02|02. The compression springs ||2-'| I2 are tted `in sockets ||1-| I1 formed in'the slotted journal boxes and are pressed down-4 wardly by spring centering seats |20|20 engaging adjusting bolts |2|I2| positioned in tapped bores I22-I22 formed in atie cap |25.

Apintle |26 secured to lugs I21|21 projecting from the side frame members 56 and 51 serves to mountl the frame members |01 and |08 pivotally upon the side frame members 56 and 51.

. Spring-pressed pins |30-|30, which secure the ripheral rates of speed at which they tend to advance the strip 9 from the feed rolls and l2 at a rate of speed approximately 20% faster than that at which the feedrrolls `advance the strip, whereby any slack accumulation due to sag is removed and the portion of the strip between the feed rolls and the shear rolls is tensioned. The rate of speed of the blade roll I5 is such that the linear rate of speed of the severing edge 16 of the blade 151s from 35% to 50% greater than the peripheral rate of speed of the anvil roll I6. This, plus the fact that the gear 50, which drives the blade roll, is driven by the gear 48, which is rigidly connected with the anvil roll, eliminates all backlashbetween the gears 50 and 5|. Hence, when the blade engages the strip 9, it rubs the strip over the anvil roll. The blunt severing edge serves to pinch .the strip to a membrane 88 when it' is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position the blunted severing edge com presses the membrane.

The taller rolls 20 and 2| (Fig. 4) include cylindrical shells 90 and 9|, respectively. The cylindrical shell 99 is rotatably mounted by collars 92*92 upon a shaft 95 and the cylindrical shell frame members to lugs |3I-I3I projecting from the side frame members 55 and 51, may be Withdrawn from the lugs '|3I-|3| and the frame members |01 and |08 to permit the frame members to be pivoted away from the shear rolls I5 and I6 to provide access to the shear rolls.

A gear |32 secured to the shaft 95 meshes with a gear |35 secured to the shaft 91. The gear |35 meshes with a gear |36 of a suitable adjustable frictioniclutch |31, which is mounted upon a bearingpost |40'and is4 secured to a gear |4| rotatably'fmounted on the bearing post |40 and meshes with the gear 45. Y

' When the drive shaft 21l (Fig. 2) is driven, the gear 45 is driven and drives the gear |35 through the gear |40 and the friction clutch |31 and the gear |35 drives the gear |32 in a direction opposite to that in which the gear |35 .is driven.` This drives the shaft 95 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, and the shaft 91 is driven in a counterclockwise direction. The shaft 95 and 91 through the spiral springs IUD- |00 and I0 ||0D| respectively, drive the cylindrical shells and 9|, respectively, in opposite directions such as to cause the shells 90 and 9| to advance the strip 9 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7.

- The system of gearing described above for Idriving the taller rolls 20 and 2| drives the shafts 95 and 91 at a rate of speed at which, if the taller rolls were positively connected to the shafts 95 and 91, the peripheral rate of speed of the tailer rolls would be about twice that at which the shear rolls |5`and |6, serve vto advance the strip 9. However, the tailer rolls are connected toV the shafts 9s and 91 by the springs loo-loo and IUI4I'DI, respectively, so `that the shells 9|) and 9| are retarded by the strip. This winds upthe springs IBO-|00 and I|-|0| as the tailer rolls tendv to advance the strip, whereby the portion of the strip between the shear rolls andthe tailer rolls is placed undertension. i

The friction clutch |31 (Fig. 4) is adjusted to a condition in which only a. predetermined torque, which is equivalent to the total torque ofv the wound up, can beY transmitted from the gear |4I to ythe gear |35 so that. the force applied -to the of the springs. slipuntil the tension inthe strip is equal to the wound up' spring force, but slips if tensionv on the stripbecomes greaterthan the predetermined torque so that the springs IDU-|00 and IUI-IDI will not be bro-ken. `If it is desired tolessen the vtension applied by the tailer rolls to the portion of the strip between shear rolls yand* the tailer rolls, some of the springs IINl-IIID and lIlI-IUI .shafts 95 and 91 is limited to the wound up torque The friction clutchy |31 does not mayfbeun'bolted from the shells-9|) and 9|, re- 'y spectively. If this is done, the frictionclutch |31 mayr be .adjusted to vary accordingly the torque transmitted thereby of thesprings IDU-'|00 and IUI-IUI are unbolted from the shells 90 and 9|, respectively. f 'l The feed rolls II and kI2 are positioned'asclose as possible to the shear rolls |5 and I6 so that tension is rapidly built up in the portion of thief?.5 f

strip 9 therebetween. Likewiseythe tailer rolls 20 and 2| are positioned as close as'possible to the shear rolls I5 and I6 so that the spiral tor- K sionsprings IGU-I and iUI-jIIlI are wound up rapidly to build up tensionV in the strip rapidly.

In'the operation of the shear Ill '(Fig. 6), the feedy rolls l'II and I2 are rotated to advance the strip 9V ata predetermined rate of speed `toward the shear rolls I5 and I6, which are driven by the system of rgears described hereinabove at rates of yspeedat which they tend to advance the strip yata rate of speed approximately 20% greaterthan that at which the feed rolls normally advance Vthe strip, whereby the portion of the strip between the Vfeed rolls and thev shearrolls istensioned.

The tailer rolls 20 and 2| engagethe strip 9 and.

tend to Vadvance it from the shear rolls at arate lof speed substantially twicethat at which it is delivered from the shear rolls.V This tensions the portion of the strip between the shear rolls and the tailer rolls, and *they spiral torsion springs IUUTIOIJ and IBI-IUI .(Fig. 4) are caused to be wound" up by the friction of the strip against the tailer rolls. ,h

When the blade 15 Yisfrotatedto the position shown in Fig. 7, it pinches the strip 9 to the mem-Y brane 88. Since vthe linear rate of speed ofthe edge 16 of the `blade 15 is substantially faster z than the peripheral rate of speedoof the anvil roll I6, the membraneis rubbed over the periphery of the anvil roll I6. Also, the blade and the anvil roll compress the membrane therebetween.

At this time, Vthe spiraly springs I00-|00 and 6 bar and the relieved y I5 provide clearance for the stripwhen the blade is inthe position shown infFig. 'iso that the tension of the membrane of the strip is not dissipated yby Contact of the clamping bar and the blade roll with lthe strip. The tension placed upon the Y membrane, the pressure exerted thereon bythe edge 1S of the blade and the anvil roll and the rubbing of the membrane over the peripheryof the anvil roll rupture the membrane.-

, After the membrane 88 has been ruptured, the j severed portion of the strip 9 is shot rapidlyfto the ,left by the tailerrolls 20 and 2| duegto'the suddenly released energy of' the wound upspiral* springs IDU-|00 and IUI-IUI. Simultaneously,-

the tension` of the portion of the strip 9 `between the shear rolls andthe feed rolls is released, their feed rolls feed the new end'of thestrip torthef .shear;rolls, and the shear rolls then feed thefnew end of the strip to the,tailerv rolls and the opera-*f tion described hereinabove is repeated.

In the method of and the apparatus for shar- 'A ing the strip 9 of plastic material described Vhereinabove the strip is sheared into-segments of 1 equal lengths effectively-and uniformly. .The

strip is advancedY continuously and is rapidly shearedv into segments. As the strip is continuously advanced thestrip is pinched to a memf lbrane, and themembrane is rubbedover the anvil roll and is placed under a hgh'tension sov Y that the membrane4 is ruptured. The: sheared f y segment then' is shot yout rapidly by thetailer,`

rolls.

The severingedge 16 Vof the blade 15 is blunt andmay be maintained in excellent pinching condition very easily withV little or no maintenance thereof.

to shear the strip 9 at each revolution ofthe blade roll I5. Also the tension placed 'upon the membrane 88 of the strip 9 during the shearing operation obviates the necessity of great com-"f pressive forceslbetween the blade and they anvil roll.

The apparatusand methods embodying'this invention are especially useful for severing strips of plastic materials, suchv as compounds made of rubber or synthetic rubber-like materials.V

Thus, strip of` insulating and 'jacketing cornpounds, such as are used to form'coverings on electrical conductors and cables," may be readilyv cut into slabs that are suitable for further processing infaccordance with known methods.

rubber-'like material, or mixtures thereof.V Y

lWhat is claimed is:

1'. The method of shearing strips of plastic material, which comprises reducing a portion of a strip of plastic material to a small cross-sectional area, and placing the portions ofthe strip on opposite sides'of and adjacent to said portionv -under tension to rupture as that portion is j reduced.

2. The method of' shearing strips of plastic* material, which comprises simultaneously-reduc@ ing to a small cross-sectional area, a portion of a strip of plastic material between opposed severing elements to leave a membrane, and placing c the portions of the strip on both sides of the severing elements under tension.

3. The method of shearing strips of plastic material, which comprises advancing a strip of plasportion of the blade roll.

However, the severing edge together with the action of the 'anvil roll I6, the tailer .ro1ls20 and 2| and the feed rolls |I and I2 kserve Such rcompounds may include natural rubber, or neo- A prene l(polymerized-chlorop1ene) Buna or other synthetic tic material at a predetermined rate of speed,

reducing the strip to a membrane at a point in advance of said predetermined point, placing the r a strip of plastic material at' a predetermined point, advancing the strip past said point at a predeterminedrate ofspced, frictionally gripping and advancing the strip at a second point positioned in advance of the first-mentioned point at avi-ate of speed greater than said rate of speed, whereby tension is placed upon the portion of the strip between said` points, frictionally gripping and advancing the strip of material at a third pointwhich is in advanceof the lastmentioncd point at a greater rate of speed than that at whichy it is advanccdat the second point. whereby the portion of the strip between the second point and the'third point is placed under tension, reducing the strip to a membrane at the second point, and rubbing the membrane, whereby the membrane is ruptured.

5. The method ofv shearingstrips of plastic material, which comprises pinching a strip of plastic material to a membrane between opposed severing elementslplacing the portions of the strip adjacent to the membrane `under tension,

material, which comprises a pair of opposed re-V n sil'iently driven taller rolls for advancing a strip of plastic materialtherebetween, and means for retarding the strip against the action of the taller rolls, including a pair of opposed severing elements for reducing the strip to a membranewhich is ruptured by the tension of the strip.

8. An apparatus for shearing strips of plastic material, which comprises means for stretching between two points a portion of a strip of plastic material, and opposed severing means for pinching a portion of the strip stretched by the stretch- 'ing means to a membrane, whereby the membrane is snapped apart.

9. An apparatus for shearing strips of plastic material, which comprises a pair of parallel shafts, a pair of parallel cylinders mounted rotatably on the parallel shafts, a plurality of spiral torsion springs positioned in the cylinders for connecting the shafts resiliently to the cylinders, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, whereby the cylinders are rotated in opposite directions and serve to advance a strip of plastic material therebetween, a pair of feed rolls spaced from the cylinders, means for rotating the feed rolls to advance the strip of material to the cylinders at a rate of speed less than said rate of speed, `a pair of opposed shear rolls positioned between the cylinders and the feed rolls, a blade having a severingT edge formed thereon secured to one of the shear rolls, and means for driving the shear rolls at a rateof speed at which they advance the strip of material at a rate of speed intermediate those at which the strip is advanced by the cylinders and the feed rolls, whereby the portion of the strip between the cylinders and the feed rolls is placed under tension and is ruptured when engaged by the blade.

10. An apparatus for shearing strips of plastic material, which comprises a pair of feed rolls, means for driving the feed rolls in opposite directions to advance a strip of plastic ymaterial therebetween at a predetermined rate of speed, a pair of shear rolls for engaging the strip therebetween, means for rotating the shear rolls at rates of speed which are greater than thatv of the feed rolls to advance it from the feed rolls'and place it under tension, a blade secured to one of the shear rolls for reducing a portion of the strip to a membrane when the blade is rotated into engagement with the strip, a pair of tailer rolls positioned in advance of the shear rolls, means including a plurality of torsion springs for driving the tailer rolls at predetermined rates of speed at which rates the tailer rolls tend to advance the strip from thev shear rolls at a rate vofVY speed greater than that at which it is advanced by the shear rolls, whereby the portion of the'strip between Vthe shear rolls and the tailer rolls is placed.

the rolls, and means for driving the shafts at y rates of speed at which the resilient means tendl to drive the rolls at rates of speeds at which they tend to advance the strip at a. greater rate of speed than that-of the strip advancing means, v

whereby the strip is tensioned and the 4membrane is ruptured.

12. An apparatus for severing strips of plastic f' material, which comprises means for pinching periodically a strip of plastic material to a membrane, means positioned on one side of the .pinching means for advancing the/,strip to the pinching means at a predetermined rate of speed, and

resiliently driven gripping means positioned on the opposite side ofthe strip-severing means for tending to advance the strip at a greater rate of speed than that of the strip-advancing means.

l 13. An apparatus for, shearing stripsr'of plastic materiaL'which comprises means for periodically pinching to a small cross-sectional area, a strip of plastic material, means positioned on one side of the pinching means for feeding the strip to the pinching means at a predetermined rateof speed, a pair of parallel shafts positioned on the opposite side of thepinching means, a pair of hollow cylinders mounted rotatably on the shafts,

a plurality ol' spiral torsion springs coiled in one direction for connecting one of the cylinders to one of the shafts, a plurality of spiral torsion springs Vcoiled in the other direction for connecting the other cylinder to the other shaft, driving means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions to advance the strip from the pinching means, said driving means and springs tending to rotate the cylinders at a rate of speed greater than said rate, whereby the strip is tensioned, and means for limiting the torque applied by the driving means to the shafts.

14. An apparatus for shearing strips of plastic' material, which comprises a pair of opposed feedy rolls, means for rotating the feed rolls to advance a strip of plastic material at a predetermined rate of speed, a pair of shear rolls positioned in advance of the feed rolls for engaging the strip as it is advanced thereto by the feed rolls` means for pressing one ol' the shear rolls toward the other, a blade having a severing edge secured to one of the shear rolls in a position in which the severing edge projects beyond the periphery of i that shear roll, means for rotating the shear rolls at rates of speed at which they tend to ad- Vance the strip from the feed rolls at a rate of speed greater than said predetermined rate, said last-mentioned rotating means serving to rotate the shear rolls at rates of speeds at which the rate of speed of the severing edge of the severing bar is substantially greater than the peripheral speed of the shear roll to which it is not secured, a pair of parallel shafts positioned inadvance of the shear rolls, a pair of hollow cylinders mounted rotatably on the shafts, a plurality of oppositely coiled spiral torsion springs positioned in the hollow cylinders for connecting the cylinders to the shafts, and means for rotating the shafts to rotate the cylinders through the springs, said last-mentioned rotatingmeans serving to rotate the shafts at rates of speed at which the hollow cylinders tend to advance the strip from the shear rolls at a rate of speed substantially greater than that at which the strip is advanced by the shear rolls.

15. For use with a shear having means for reducing to a membrane a portion of a strip of material, means for tensioning the strip, which*l comprises a pair of rolls for engaging said portion of the strip, and resilient means for driving at least one of the rolls at a greater rate of speed than that of the advancing means to tension the membrane.

17. For use with a pair of in running shear rolls for advancing a strip of plastic material at a predetermined speed and for reducing the strip periodically to a membrane. means for rupturing the membrane, which comprises a pair of shafts positicnedvelose to the shear rolls, a pair of cylindrical shells rotatably mounted on the shafts, a plurality of spiral torsion springs for connecting theshells to the shafts. and means for rotating the shafts in opposite inrunning directions at a rate of speed at which the shafts tend to rotate the shells through the springs at a rate -of speed greater than that of the shear rolls,

shafts, a plurality of spiral torsion springs for connecting the shells to the shafts, and means for rotating the shafts in opposite inrunning d'irections at a rate of speed at which the shafts tend to rotate the shells through the springs at a rate ofspeed greater than that at which' the material is advanced by the shear.

VINCENT A. RAYBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,958,137 Fowler May 8, 1934 Certificate of Correction Patent N o. 2,429,945. October v28, 1947. VINCENT A. RAYBURN It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 1, line 36, after the syllable Vance insert the Words the strip; column 4, line 32, for 15-115 read 115-115; column 7, lines 2 and 3, claim 3, strike out the Words "point in advance of said, same line 3, after point and before the comma, insert simultaneously with the redaa tion of the strip; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of May, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommisszoner of Patents. 

